The 2006/2007 edition of The World Steelband Music Festival is on!

This festival promises to be even more keenly competitive than previous ones with expected participation from many top bands and pannists. The grand finals of the competition will again be hosted outside of Trinidad and Tobago (at a US venue to be announced), and all indications are that this one will surpass the very high standard of the Madison Square Garden event in 2004.
As in previous competitions, participants will compete in the Orchestra, Single Pan and Minor (Soloists, Duets, Quartets, and Ensemble) categories. Soloists, Duets and Quartets will perform one Piece of Choice. Ensembles, Orchestras and Single Pan Bands each will perform both a Test Piece and a Piece of Choice at each round of the competition. Of significance this year is that all the test-pieces come from the music of Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow.
see the rules for more information.

The World Steelband Music Festival was born out of the biennial Steelband Music Festival in Trinidad. This biennial Event was started in 1952 as a category in the National Music Festival, however the increased number of participants and the high standard of music and panmanship displayed, demanded the show be staged independently of the National Music Festival.
more on the festival

With the rapid spread and influence of the steelband throughout Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1940’s, it became necessary to organize and streamline its operation. The necessity saw steelbandsmen coming together in 1949 to form The Steelband Association of Trinidad and Tobago. more on Pantrinbago